Sandy K. Schmidt

Sandy is a certified yoga teacher, meditation guide, and Ayurveda practitioner. She’s been teaching in Costa Rica for several years in group and private settings, in yoga shalas, on beautiful beaches, at festivals and yoga retreats. Her approach is focused on understanding yoga as a philosophy of life, and a support system for daily life off the mat. On the mat, yoga frees and opens the body through movement and breath, but off-mat practice opens our mind and perspective. By practicing both, we grow in the totality of our being, body and mind, and more easily experience the union of all aspects of life.

Sandy began her yoga practice as a personal journey to find wellness and balance in her life, taking time out from her demanding career and life in conservation. Learning to find power in stillness and reflection went from being a challenge to being something precious. Yoga and meditation became her go-to, her sanctuary — a place to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of the world, reflect on achievements and encounter obstacles from a space of calm intention.

Living in an incredible country like Costa Rica, which attracts thousands of visitors every year, she was quickly invited to share her journey with those who also seek to reconnect with nature and with themselves. Surely there could be no better place than Costa Rica: a country surrounded by two oceans, a lush tropical jungle, incredible air quality to nourish our bodies through breath work, movement, meditation, healthy nutrition, and nature outings.

When Sandy isn't on the mat, she fiercely pursues her purpose as a conservationist and runs her nonprofit organization, Operation Rich Coast, that promotes and facilitates environmental initiatives like beach cleanups and tree planting, provides education, and strives to empower people of all walks of life towards action. She strongly believes that taking care of the Earth means taking care of ourselves.

Sandy provides yoga instruction at the Waves of Grief Retreat Costa Rica.